A new regional policy framework has been launched to help Caribbean nations responsibly and sustainably dispose of firearm and ammunition remnants left behind after destruction exercises. The framework is designed to align with international best practices and bolster the region’s fight against gun violence and illicit arms circulation.
Titled “Policy Framework: To Sustainably Dispose of Destroyed Firearms and Ammunition Components in the Caribbean”, the document was developed through collaboration between the Mines Advisory Group (MAG), the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS), and the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC). It was officially launched on June 4, 2025, during a virtual event.
“This Framework marks a turning point. It is not just about destroying weapons – it is about doing so safely, sustainably and systematically. It is about ensuring that every firearm removed from our streets is accounted for, disposed of responsibly and never finds its way back into circulation. And it is about aligning our practices with international standards, environmental responsibility, and our shared commitment to peace and justice,” said Adam Komorowski, Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean at MAG.
Katja Boettcher, Deputy Director of UNLIREC, emphasized the risks associated with poor management of weapons remnants. “It is an established fact that inadequate management of firearms and ammunition significantly increases the risk of diversion, fuelling the illicit spread of weapons and posing a threat to national, community and individual security,” she said. Despite ongoing efforts by CARICOM states to destroy illicit and obsolete weapons, many are left with remnant components needing proper disposal.
“The Framework broaches fundamental issues that need to be addressed and provides a series of recommendations at immediate, medium- and long-term intervals, towards sustainable and cost-effective solutions to this ongoing challenge,” Boettcher added.
Callixtus Joseph, Acting Assistant Director of Policy, Strategy and Innovation at CARICOM IMPACS, said the new framework strengthens the Caribbean’s position in global disarmament leadership. “The Framework contributes directly to international normative instruments, placing the Caribbean at the forefront of the development and implementation of global best practices and standards for the safe, secure and environmentally responsible disposal of weapons and ammunition,” he said.
He further noted that the initiative supports the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap, particularly Target 4.3, which seeks the permanent and irreversible removal of illicit arms from circulation. “Let this be the catalyst for advancing and implementing the recommendations of the Framework and for reinforcing the Caribbean’s leadership in responsible arms control and environmental sustainability,” Joseph said.
